Don’t count the defending champions out just yet.
National University pulled out all the stops in Game 1 to stun outright-finalist University of Santo Tomas, 84-79, and take a huge step toward the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball championship on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Badly beaten by the Growling Tigresses in their two elimination round encounters (62-76 and 85-105), the Lady Bulldogs displayed composure at the highest level to hand UST its first loss of the season.
“We feel relieved kasi during the eliminations, we got swept by UST. We’re happy, finally we’re able to get a win against them, and what a timing na here in the Finals pa,” said NU head coach DA Olan.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
NU will go for its ninth title in 10 seasons in Game 2 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia. Meanwhile, UST, with its bid for a perfect season gone, now hopes to stay alive and force a deciding game.
The last two Finals series between the two rivals went into full route.
The Growling Tigresses seemed poised to seize control after a 16-2 run in the middle of the third quarter put them ahead 53-47, erasing an earlier 37-45 deficit.
But NU was undeterred, refusing to let UST pull away.
Kent Pastrana’s bank shot, followed by two free throws from Karylle Sierba, gave the Growling Tigresses a 70-67 lead with 6:19 left — but that would be their last taste of the lead.
Marga Villanueva answered with two consecutive triples for the Lady Bulldogs, matching every made shot by UST for the rest of the game.
“Hindi namin alam paano namin nakuha ‘yung panalo talaga kasi sabi nga ni Coach DA, sa elimination malaki ‘yung itinatambak ng UST sa amin so God did. Naniwala lang kami sa game plan at sinunod lang namin ang coaches,” said graduating Angel Surada, who led NU with 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals, three assists, and a block.
Villanueva added 17 points despite struggling from the field, shooting just 5-of-19, while Tin Cayabyab contributed 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
But it was the duo of Bonie Solis and Xyza Pring who made the difference, especially when presumptive MVP Ann Pingol ran into foul trouble.
Solis finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while Pring had nine points, three rebounds, and two assists, logging a plus-13 rating in her 13 minutes and 44 seconds on the floor.
Coming off a stepladder semifinal, NU had earlier rallied from six points down late to frustrate Ateneo de Manila University and book its ticket to the Finals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Growling Tigresses had gone straight to the Finals after sweeping the elimination round, only to hit a huge roadblock in Game 1.
Season 85 MVP Eka Soriano led UST with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. However, she found herself forced to the bench with 53.2 seconds left after a mid-air collision with Aloha Betanio.
Pastrana added 15 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals but shot just 5-of-17 from the field, missing all eight of her three-point attempts.
Sierba contributed 14 points and six assists, while Brigette Santos and Oma Onianwa supplied 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Scores:
NU (84) – Surada 19, Villanueva 17, Cayabyab 11, Solis 11, Pring 9, D. Medina 6, Betanio 4, Pingol 3, Garcia 2, Alterado 2, Canindo 0.
UST (79) – Soriano 20, Pastrana 15, Sierba 14, Santos 11, Onianwa 10, Ambos 5, C. Danganan 4, Maglupay 0, Pineda 0, Pescador 0, Bron 0, Relliquette 0.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 42-35, 61-60, 84-79.
